Starting with a meeting in 2008 to discuss the lack of housing options for seniors in Coe Hill, The Ironwood Seniors Residence is breaking ground.

Located on Spring Street in Coe Hill, the new building will offer four, self-contained one bedroom units. One of the four units is wheelchair accessible.

The residence will be owned and operated by Hastings County and will offer subsidized, geared to income, rental units for seniors over 65 years of age.

At the ground breaking on June 8 Reeve Dan McCaw explained that the process has been challenging because of government red tape. McCaw says it was a real struggle to deliver on his election promise to build housing for seniors.

"What I done is put a committee together and they had to be ready to work hard," McCaw said.

McCaw says his committee was up to the task.

"Anyone that don't work for the government don't understand," he said. "Paper had to sit on a desk for 180 days. To me, that really showed me how ridiculous- how slow things move in our system."

But political red tape aside, building construction will start on June 11 with Springdale Developments Inc. of Belleville commencing work on the building foundation.

The building's completion date is expected to be fall of 2012.

Also at the ground breaking, McCaw announced that he would be moving forward with a plan to attract social housing projects to Wollaston Township.

"I had the head of the outfit up here and we want to bring in more of this housing for families," McCaw said. "If we want to grow, it's gotta be social services and I have to go after that."

McCaw said that the last census numbers showed a decline in population for Wollaston Township and he thinks that building more social housing will reverse that trend and attract families to the community.

Those at the ceremony on June 8 were humble about the amount of work they had completed and they are looking forward to the completion of the new residence.

The not-for-profit seniors' housing committee working on the Ironwood Seniors Residence is made up of Dave Davidson, Mansel Evans, Bob Woodley, Sheila Bickle, Dan and Edith McCaw, Brent Goodwin, Karl O'Brien, Al Belson, Lois McCaw and Bonnie Purdy.

At the ground breaking event McCaw also thanked his staff. McCaw said his staff made the job easier for him with their hard work and support.

Information for those interested in applying for a unit is not yet available but inquiries can be directed to the Hastings County Social Services Housing Programs Branch.